Automatic fan valve



April 2,1, 1925. 1,534,830 R. BEHNKE AUTOMATIC FAN VALVE Fild Nov. 25, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l m m m atto: "44,5

Af Aril 21, 1925. A

.. A. R.r BEHNKE AUTOMATIC FAN VALVE Filed Nov. 25. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Hoz aus Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES .ALBERT R. IBElEIlI-KE, 0F ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

`au'roivmtrro FAN vALvE.

Application inea November 25, 1922. serial No. 603,375.

To all whom t may concerne.'

Be it known that I, ALBERT R. BEHNKE, a citizen of the United States7 residing at St. Paul, inthe county of Ramsey andState of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic VFan Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic fan valves and has for its object to provide a fan for an internal combustion engine Which fan has positioned in the hub thereof a governor adapted 'to open and close a valve connected with the intake manifold of the engine so that an additional amount of air may be drawn into theengine as the same reaches a predetermined speed.

Another object is to provide a support l having a drum mounted thereon which drum carries the blades of the fan of the engine and houses the governor and valve controlling the additional air to the intake manifold. y

A still further object of the invention is to provide the support for said fan with a. bore through the same. which bore terminates within the drum and has associated. With it. a valve operated by said governor which support is further connected by means of a flexible pipe to the intake manifold of the engine.

The full objects and advantages of vmy invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out in the claims. p

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an engine showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the Ian proper with portions cut away to show the construction thereof and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view ofthe check valve shown in Figure 1 and drawn to a'larger` scale.

In the construction of motor vehicles of the less expensive type where an auxiliary air governor is desired and Where the same is installed in the factory, it is highly advantageous to employ a device Which can take the place of some of the existing parts on the motor vehicle. My invention provides a structure which may be substituted for the ordinary cooling fan employed with motor vehicles so that the usual fan may be dispensed with and the cost of installation thereby reduced.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown an internal combustion engine of ordinary'construction. This engine is indicated at its entirety at A and comprises a cylinder block 10 in which is journalled'a crank shaft 11 to which is attached a driving pulley 12. Pulley 12 drives through a. belt 13, a fan shaft pulley 14 having attached to it a casing 100 on the periphery of which is mounted a number of fan blades 15 which form the fan of the engine. Pulley 14 is rotatably mounted upon a bracket 16 which is attached to the cylinder block 10. In conjunction With cylinder block 10 the same is further provided with a cylinder head 17 and a crank-case 18 which are attached thereto in the usual manner. To the exterior of the cylinder head 10 is attached an exhaust manifold 19 and an intake manifold 20 Which are held in place by means of cron/7s feet 21 to communicate with the respective valve chambers and cylinder chambers of the engine in the customary manner. In the particular engine shown,

. intake manifold 20 is formed with a depend-l ing neck 22 Which connects with a carburetor 23 having an air inlet 24 terminating in a heater 25 positioned adjacent the exhaust manifold 19. Y

The engine above described has been merely illustrated to show the application of my invention and it can readily be comprehended that the invention may be installed upon any other engine aswill forthwith become apparent.

My invention consists of a governor and an air valve which are mounted Within the casing 100 and which governor is adapted to be operated upon rotation of the pulley 14 by means of belt 13 to open and close the said valve as the speed of the engine y varies. A pipe 101 is connected at one end to a check valve 102 which communicates with` the intake manifold 20 While said pipe is connected at its other end with thc valve Within casing 100 so that, as the speed of the engine varies, the suction Within the engine causes an additional amount of air to be drawn in through said valve and into the engine thereby reducing the fuel consumptionA and the formation of carbon within the engine.

The construction of the auxiliary air valve'fandA governor of my invention is best comp'rehended from Figures 3 and 4. A circular casing 28 is provided which is toi-med with a back 29 and anoutwardly-turned flange 8O extending completely around the same. At the center ot the back 29 the saine is pressed outwardly to form a number of inwardly-turned arms 32 which are formed with hooks 33 at the ends of the same. The

pulley 14', `previously referred to, is formed "36"which rideI against cone races 39 cooperating therewith. The cone races 39 are supported upon aV shaft or hollow spindle 40, oneiof the said'cone races being held against aV shoulder 4l formed on said spindle, the other 'being held in place by means of two lock nuts 42 scre'wable upon said spindle. Spindle passes'th'rou'gh arm 16 and is held in place `thereon by means ot a nut 43 screwed to the eXtreme end thereof. In this I ruinlier7 a thrust bearing is prow'ficled which is capablelotsupporting the pulley 14' and the fan attached thereto 'for rotation.

The valve mechanism of the invention Consists of a device which is attached to the end of the spindle` 40. This spindle is lprm'ed with a circular head 44 rigidly connected Vtlrerenf'itli and extending outwardly beyond the hooked portions S3 of the arms 32. This head isl` formed with a dished opening 45 in the face thercoix which opening communicates with an internal bore 46 passingV through the center of the spindle 40. Yilithin the (lished opening 45, l provide a disk-like member 4T, which is o t diameter somewhat less than the opening 45 Aand which is h'eld in spaced relationwith the walls o't' said openings both along the rear and at the edges thereoil by means ot Vscrews 48 having spacer washers 4S) mounted thereon. This disk forms an annular opening 50 in the tace' oit the head 44' which communicates by means ot' a passage 5l formed between the said disk and head with the bore 46, thus permitting the air to enter through the annular opening 5f) and pass linto the intake manifold ot the engine.

Rotatably mounted upon the head is a plate 52 having a flange 53 formed along the samewhich is adapted to'cover the periphery 54 of the said head 44, as is clearly shown in Figure 4. This plate 52 is formed with a numberot' segmental annular openings 55 adapted to register with the annular opening 50 in the head 44 throughout the movement of the plate 52 upon said head land lying parallel with the back 29.

44. A packing ring 56 is positioned in the periphery ot head 44 which engages vthe inner surface ot the flange 53 ol the plate 52 thereby providing an air-tight connection between said plate and headA` so that air may enter the device only through openings 55 therein.

The. valve mechanism ot' the invention consists ot a number of arcuate shoes 57 which are adapted to be seated upon the face of the plate 52 to cover the openings 55;#pr`eviously described. These shoes are adapted to be slid radially to cover or uncover the openingsby a centrifugal operatingl means in a manner now to be described so that the amount ot air entering the intake manifold 'of the engine will be automatically regulated in accordance with the speed ot' the kengine proper.

The structure tor opera't'iiig the valve shoes 57 consists ot tour weights 58 which may be formed cin'ved, as shown in Figure 3, to occupy as little space within the device as possible.V These weights are provided with rais-ed lugsi'SOissuing therefrom, which lugs supportl spring members (il adapted to operateV the shoes 5T. The spring members 6l are formed with two lingers G2 which are adapted' to spread outwardly and engage at their extreme ends the shoes 5T and which operate between lugs G3 form-ed on said shoes. The springs 6l are adapted to slide into Twshaped' slots indi fated in dotted lines in Figure 3 at G4 in' the lugs GO. ,i hook G5 formed on said springs is adapted to engage into a notch GG toi-med in the said lug 60 to securely hold the sam-e in place, which hooks normally project outwardly beyond the surface orP springs (il so that`r wl en the. device is slid .into place within the grooves G4, the said hooks (i5 will register with the notches 6G to securely hold the springs Gl in place. v

The weights 5S are guided in axial movement by means of a number oit guides 67 which are formed from the` body ol the back 29 of casing 28 and bend inwardly intothe said casingv1 the said guides being radially arranged as shown in Figure These guides operate in slots G8 formed in the weights 58., which slots extend partially through the same. In addition to the said guides, the weights 58 slide between the back 29 o'f casing 28 and a ring (i9 attached to the interior ot the flanged portion 30 ot casing 28a which ring is formed with a numberI ot projections 70 issuing inwardly on the same BY this meansI` the said weights are held and guided so that the same may slide' radially of the device to move the shoes 57 to cover or uncover the openings 55 so as to permit or cut ott the flow ot air into the device.

For opposing the movement oi the weights 58, I employ a number of leaf springs 71 which are attachedvto the device as follows: Near the support of the. weights 58 the same are formed with radial eXtensions 72 which extend-to within a short dis` tance of the inner surface of the flange 30. These extensions have short lugs 73 attached to the same between which the springs 71 are adapted to lie. The said springs engage at their ends the interior of the flange 30, so that said springs become bent when the weights 58 are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force. This has the edect of regulating the amount of valve opening, so that the amount of air permitted toenter the in` take manifold is proportional to the speed of the engine proper.

The method of causing the plate 52 to r0- tate with the casing 28 so as to always hold the valve shoes 57 in proper position relative to the openings 55 is as follows: The guide 67 which issues outwardly from the back 29 of the casing 28 is designed to eX- tend toward the center of the said casing 28 beyond the weights 58, asindicated at74. These extensions are adapted to ride in slots 75 formed in the edge of the flange portion 53 of plate 52. This forms a driving connection between the said plate and the casing 29. The slots 7 5 are preferably formed sufficiently large so that said plate 52 may move relative to the head 411 so-that an irregularity in construction will not prevent the said plate from seating properly against the face of the said head and thereby permitting air to leak into the device when not desired.y

For oiling the device a centrally located pocket 76 is formed in the disk-like member 47 which pocket forms an oil reservoir between the said member and the plate 52. This pocket communicates with the exterior by means of an oil hole 77 through which oil may be injected into the same. If de` sired, a sliding cover 7 8 may be used to cover the said oil hole when the same is wished to be closed. By this means the surface of the member 47 in the plate 52 which comes in contact constantly can be lubricated so that the device is at all times in perfect operating condition.

The construction of the valve 102 is shown in detail in Figure 5. This valve comprises a casing 103 which is formed with a neck threaded to screw into the intake manifold 20. Another neck 105 is provided with a coupling 106 by means of which the pipe 101 is connected therewith so that the said pipe is in communication with the chamber 107 formed within the casing 103. A ball 108 rests upon the opening through the neck 105 and normally closes the same. When the suction of the engine creates a vacuum in the chamber 107, ball 108 rises permitting air to be drawn through the pipe 101 and into the intake manifold 20. An adjusting screw 109 regulates the maximum amount of opening through the check valve 102 so that the maximum amount of air entering the engine through my invention may be vvaried at will.

The advantages of my inventionaiemanifest. A device is pro-vided which takes the lace of one of the existing parts of the inotor vehicle thereby eliminating the necessity of providing a totally new structure for producing the results desired and also utilizing an existing driving means for operatiiig the invention. TWith the substitution ofmy invention for the ordinary fan,

substantially no increase in the amount of power consumed in the operation of my invention is required. The fan blades may be j attached to the casing of the governor proper so that, in general appearances, the

device is similar to the ordinary fan.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention, togetherwith the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims. I claim:

1. In combination with a fan pulley of a motor vehicle, a casing attached to one ofk vthe flanges thereof, fan plates secured to the casing, a valve mechanism within the casing and a governor for operating said valve mechanism.

2. In combination with a fan pulley having a Vbearing positioned within one end thereof, a spindle journalled within said bearing enveloping a portion of the end of said fan pulley and bearing, a valve formed upon the end of said spindle, weights positione'd within said casing surrounding the inward end of said fan pulley and means connected with said weights for operating said valve upon variations in speed of said fan pulley.

3. In combination with the intake manifold and fan pulley of a motor vehicle a casing secured to said pulley, fan blades attached to said casing, a governor positioned within said casing, a valve positioned within said casing and operated by said governor and means for connecting said valve with said intake manifold.

4. In combination with the intake manifold and fan pulley of a motor vehicle a circular casing secured t0 said fan pulley, fan blades attached to and issuing outwardly from the periphery of said casing, a support for said fan pulley, a passageway leading through said support, a valve positioned at the end of said support communicating with saidpassageway, a `governor Within the casing adapted control said ialve and means 'for connecting said passageway in said snppoi't with said intake manifold.

A fan valve comprising a circular casing, `fan blades issuing outwardly from said casing, a. pulley attached to said casing co axially positioned relative thereto, a lgovernor within the casing, ka valve positioned within said casing and controlled by said governor and air conducting means conimuiiicating ivith said valve and passing through the anis ol' said casing an'cl`1'iiille'y. 6. A` fan valve eoi'nprising a sleeve, a `,flangeormed on one end thereof, a; second flange formed near the middle of said sleeve, a casing adapted to lit over, said sleeve vbein-g attaelied to said second flange, a spindle passing through said sleeve, me'a'ns for jouin nailing lsaid sleeve upon said spindle, `a valve attachedA to the end of said sleeve "and positioned within said casing, governor weights positioned beliveeii the inwardly projectingportin of said sleeve and the vexterior of said, casing and means operable by said weights for operating said valve.

7. A fan valve comprising a spindle, a passageway extending axially through said spindle, a valve positioned at one end of said spindle, a pulley j'o'urialled u'poii said spindle, a vcasing attached to said pulley and enclosingv said valve, a governor positioned Within said casing for controlling said valve and fan blades attached to'said easing.

, 8. Incombination, van intake manifold, a fan pulley, a tubular pivot for said pulley, 'a tube connecting sai'd manifold vwith the tubularx pivot, and means on said pulley for controlling the entrance of air -into said tubular pivot, said means comprising a inember movable in yone, direction by a spring, and in the other direction by centrifugal force.

9. ln an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a rotatable fan pulley, and a tubular pivot for said pulley, a tube connecting the tubular pivot with the manifold, a plate covering the front side of said pulley and provided with an air opening for permitting air to enter the tubular pivot, a member 'slidable on said plate and adapted to cover 'and' uncover the opening therein, spring means for moving said inember in one direction, and means including a weight for moving- `the plate in the direction opposed by the spring.

l0. In an internal combustion engine having' an'intake manifold, a rotatable fan pulley, and a tubular pivot for said pulley, a

vtube Lconnectii'ig the tubular pivot with the manifold, a plate covering the front side of 'said pulley and provided with an air opening forpermitting air to enter the tubular pivot, a pair of 'iar'allel guides carried on said pjla'te, a mem er slidable in said guides and adapted to cover and uncover said opening', a spring connected to said plate and fsaid slidable member, and adapted to move Athe same in a direction in which the opening will be covered, and centrifuga'lly -operate'd means for moving'said slid'able inein ber in 'the direction for uncovering 'said opening when the Vengine runs.

ALBERT R. BEHNKE. 

